Imperial Garden — Restaurant in Baja California

As a food critic with a love for fine dining and a broad knowledge of Chinese cuisine, I was thoroughly impressed by my visit to Imperial Garden in Mexicali. From the moment I stepped through the doors, I was enveloped in the rich aromas of Mexican-Chinese cuisine, and the ambiance was cozy and intimate, with soft lighting and soothing music creating a truly immersive dining experience.

But the true highlight of my evening was the koi fish pond located just outside the restaurant. The peaceful sound of the water and the sight of the colorful fish swimming gracefully through the pond added a touch of tranquility and refinement to my dining experience.

I was delighted to discover the unique Cachinilla style of Chinese cuisine at Imperial Garden. This colorful and flavorful blend of Chinese and Mexican flavors is native to Mexicali and has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, when Chinese immigrants arrived in the city and began to fuse their culinary traditions with those of the local Mexican community.

I decided to sample a variety of dishes from the Comida Corrida menu, which offered an array of sumptuous options to choose from. I started with the Sopa de Aleta, a hearty and flavorful soup made with shark fin. The Carnitas Coloradas were another standout, with their tender, juicy meat and bold, spicy flavors.

The Arroz Frito con Puerco, a fried rice dish with pork and vegetables, was a tasty and satisfying option. The Brócoli con Res, a dish of broccoli and beef in a flavorful sauce, was another highlight of my meal.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Camarones Empanizados, a plate of succulent, breaded shrimp. And the Pollo con Piña, a dish of chicken and pineapple in a savory sauce, rounded out my meal perfectly. Each dish was expertly prepared and bursting with flavor, and I was thoroughly satisfied with my culinary experience at Imperial Garden.

At just 298 pesos per person, this Comida Corrida menu offered an unbeatable value for such a high-quality dining experience. The service was impeccable, and I left Imperial Garden feeling thoroughly satisfied and already looking forward to my next visit. If you're a lover of Chinese cuisine or simply have an appreciation for the finer things in life, I highly recommend a visit to this exceptional restaurant in Mexicali. Don't forget to take a moment to appreciate the tranquil koi fish pond...

We went on Tuesday, December 3rd, at lunchtime, thankfully not very crowded.

The asian themed aesthetics of the restaurant are pretty cool. They have a small but nicely covered parking lot.

There were 3 of us, so I ordered the Comida Corrida #2 for 2 people so we could share a bunch of different dishes. We were stuffed. We still had food left. It really serves 4 people. It's not the usual inexpensive mexico food. Ended up $48 usd, which also included a 10% tip. Mexicali doesn't seem like a very touristy place, so I was surprised to see the recommended 10-20% tip on the bill.

We ordered 2 small bottles of water (they dont have large bottles of water for the table to share) & 1 lemon iced tea (surpisingly tasted more like lemonade than iced tea, but was good). We found out when the bill came that 1 small bottle of water or 1 glass of lemon iced tea was about $3 usd each, which seems a bit excessive.

I'd say most of the food was surprisingly good. 5 out of the 7 dishes served from the Comida Corrida #2. The Fin Soup came out VERY hot & was good. The Pineapple Chicken & the Pork Fried Rice (although not much pork in it) were our favorites. The Breaded Shrimp & Eggrolls (lots of cabbage in it) were good. Our least favorites were the Red Pork, which was too dry, & the Broccoli with Beef was mostly broccoli & very mediocre tasting. The food comes out exceptionally fast (like they already have a hot buffet in the back with the most common dishes - considering this & the price, I'm suprised they don't have a buffet option), but unfortunately the food cools down very quickly once on your table. For the price, they really should consider hot ceramic plates, as it will help keep the food warm.

Unfortunately, the location is pretty far from the border crossing, a 40-minute walk one-way. Definitely, next time, we will try a closer to the border, similarly well-reviewed chinese restaurant. Although, if the other restaurants were closed or had a long wait, I would consider coming again to try...

The place is beautifully designed. It's exterior has lots of greenery and a very imperial-like feel to it. It's interior has huge open spaces, tall ceilings and stylish decor. They have two menus: gourmet style dishes and your typical Mexican-Chinese menu (either dish by dish or fast-food selections). Food is tasty. Service is fast enough. Food is served at a very good temperature as well. There are many, many dishes to choose from. Dish prices are a little on the high end, but their size compensates their cost. Do not underestimate this. My wife and I ordered 2 dishes only and we had to take half of the food home. Place is obviously crowded (and thus, noisy), since it opened but two weeks ago, so it is the city's sensation right now. I recommend reserving in advance and still you'll have to wait awhile. There were at least 40 people waiting outside without reservation. We waited 15 minutes to be seated even though we had one. Every table I saw is circular and it sits 6 people. Do note the tables are small. Parties of 4 and up might have a hard time accommodating their plates and drinks and the food at the center. Despite pandemic regulations, though, social distancing wasn't truly imposed, as tables were too close to each other. Do take that into account since it's a closed space and it doesn't offer exterior seating areas. The place has parking on site, but you might have to park elsewhere as it's not enough for...